Charlotte’s Speakeasy — Restaurant in Town of Oyster Bay

So much to say about this place!! I've wanted to go here for a while and we finally got there last Friday night. This is a very small basement bar with terrific decor and ceiling height. Super ambiance! We got a dinner reservation for 7 pm - there's only a few tables and a crush of people around the bar. The place was packed tight with people of all ages. Great specialized drink menu, but we never got to order any food. We were anticipating great music and it sort-of-kind-of was. The band that night was a 7-man show with a trumpet, clarinet, keyboard, 2 guitars, and lead singer. Very energetic but so deafeningly loud. Definitely louder than legally allowed. Painfully loud. In a very, very small space where you could not get away from it. They were told by a manager and others to turn it down more than a couple of times...which did make it so much better until the trumpeter's almost-solo piece...he turned the volume way up again and it stayed up when the full band joined back in. I was in some serious pain from this and my friend was also in distress. We could tell that the band was good but the loudness distorted the sound quality too. The trumpet and clarinet had attached mics but the drums dominated above all. The wonderful, passionate singer's voice never quite came through as it should. The space was way, way too small for the vigor and amplifiers of this 7 piece band! We sadly left during their first break to get dinner and another drink at Vespa. Please, please get a sound level meter and stay within safe and legal limits! It would have been utterly fantastic if this simple care had been applied. We will certainly come back here but will choose the night to coincide with a mellower...

My wife was looking for a Jazz/Blues club here on the island to celebrate my 50th birthday and came across Charlotte's speakeasy. A throw back jazz club with the feel and vibe of the roaring 20's. The catch is that the entrance is through a sliding book shelf upstairs in the ice cream parlor. I think I said too much about that. Nick the owner of Charlotte's Speakeasy was professional, gracious and a pleasure to do busy with. My party of 14 was accommodated with the two best tables in the house and treated like VIP. Our server David was on point assuring that everyone's needs were met expediently and with class. Performing was the jazz/blue's band red eye. They brought the Mississippi delta blues, Jerry Lee Lewis, Cool cat Jazz to Long Island New York. My personal request was Muddy Waters Manish Boy. If one closed their eyes, one would feel the vibe and aura of a nightclub in the 1940s on the bayou. And last but not least every great band showcases a great guest singer, and rRed Eye is no exception. Michele Curcio of Women of Soul blew us all away with powerful melodic voice and was a pleasure to speak with. I look forward to our next visit December 3rd to Charlotte speakeasy and another wonderful performance from Red Eye and...

I’ve been a regular customer at Charlotte’s and have always enjoyed bringing my kids here. However, my recent visit on February 27, 2025, at approximately 6 PM was extremely disappointing.

After returning from overseas military duty, I wanted to treat my son to ice cream as a reward for his good behavior. When I attempted to pay with a $50 bill (USD)—which I had received from a bank after exchanging foreign currency—the employee behind the counter refused to accept it, citing concerns about counterfeit bills. I understand that businesses may have policies regarding large bills, but I explained that my cash came directly from a regulated financial institution. Despite this, my payment was still declined.

To make matters worse, rather than offering a solution or showing any concern for a regular customer, the employee dismissively stated that my business didn’t matter and even mentioned throwing the ice cream away instead of working with me to resolve the issue.

As a result, I will not be returning to Charlotte’s. It is disappointing to see a business prioritize rigid policies over customer service and common sense. Fortunately, I was able to go to another establishment, which had no problem...